Holster for elongated articles

ABSTRACT

A holster comprises an elongated tube of fabric formed with longitudinal openings that enable a first part of the tube to serve as a loop for attachment to a waist belt, and a transverse opening that enables a second part of the belt to serve as a pocket of holding an elongated article such as a flashlight. The tube is composed of a woven fabric of fusible yarns. The openings are formed by means of a heated blade, and the heat fuses the yarns at the margins of the openings to one another, thereby preventing fraying.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to holsters, and particularly to a holster for carrying elongated articles such as flashlights or adjustable wrenches. It relates particularly to a holster that can be removably attached to an individual's waist belt and that allows an individual to carry the elongated article securely, and to remove it easily from the holster.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A typical flashlight of the kind having a generally cylindrical battery compartment and a flared light-emitting bezel at one end of the battery compartment, is shaped in such a way that it is impractical to carry it in a pocket of one's clothing. Especially in the case in which the battery compartment holds two or more type “AA” or type “C” dry cells arranged in end-to-end relationship, the length of the flashlight is such that a large portion of the flashlight extends outward from the pocket, creating a risk that a rapid body movement will cause the flashlight to fall out from the pocket. The presence of a flashlight in a pocket of one's clothing also makes it inconvenient to use the same pocket for other purposes such as carrying a wallet, coins, keys or other articles.

Flashlights can be provided with hooks or clips for attachment to a waist belt, but such hooks and clips having sufficient flexibility and resilience to serve this purpose adequately are subject to breakage if the flashlight is pulled outward while hanging from a belt.

Similar problems arise in carrying other elongated devices, such as adjustable wrenches, on the person.

Flashlight holsters current known are typically composed of multiple parts, difficult to manufacture and expensive.

There has been a need for an inexpensive, convenient, easy-to-use, and durable holster that enables a flashlight or other elongated device to be carried conveniently and securely, and to be removed easily from the holster for use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is to provide a holster that satisfies the above-mentioned needs.

The holster in accordance with the invention comprises an elongated tube of fabric formed with longitudinal openings that enable a first part of the tube to serve as a loop for attachment to a waist belt, and a transverse opening that enables a second part of the belt to serve as a pocket of holding an elongated article such as a flashlight.

In a preferred embodiment, the tube is formed with a pair of elongated longitudinal openings extending along opposite sides of the tube from a first location between first and second opposite ends of the tube to a second location between the first location and the second opposite end. The elongated longitudinal openings can receive a waist belt allowing the holder to be worn on one's hip. A third opening extends tranversely across a part of the tube at a third location between the second location and the second end of the tube. The portion of the tube extending from the third opening to the second end of the tube forms a pocket for receiving a portion of the body of a flashlight, the handle of an adjustable wrench, or a portion of another elongated article. The length of the third opening, measured in the transverse direction, is preferably at least approximately one half of the circumference of the elongated tube at the third location so that the third opening can be shaped into a circular opening having a diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the tube and capable of receiving the body of an article that closely fits the interior of the tube.

The tube may be closed at least at its second end to limit the movement of a flashlight or other device into the receiving pocket. The closure is preferably formed by fusion of the yarns of the tube to one another at the location of the second end.

The holster according to the invention can be composed entirely of a woven fabric, preferably a fabric made up of fusible yarns such as nylon or polyester yarns.

The portion of the elongated tube extending from the first end to the first location, i.e., the location of the upper ends of the belt longitudinal belt openings, the portion extending from the second location, i.e., the location of lower ends of the belt openings to the third opening, and the portion of the tube extending from the third opening to the second end, are preferably constituted by woven portions the weft yarns of which are continuous around the perimeter of the tube. Preferably, the tube is initially a woven tube having a continuous, helical weft yarn. The first, second and third openings are preferably formed by cutting the woven fabric using a heated blade that causes the yarns at the margins of the first, second and third openings in the tube to become fused to one another to prevent fraying.

The third opening can be formed by cutting the fabric tube along a line transverse to the direction of elongation of the tube and having a length approximating one-half the circumference of the tube. Alternatively, the third opening can be formed with opposed concave margins each extending across the part of the elongated tube at the third location. These concave margins can be in the form of 180° circular arcs which together form a circle.

In a preferred embodiment of the holster, a portion of the elongated tube extending from the first location to the first of the first and second opposite ends, has a length sufficient to allow the tube to be folded at a location adjacent the first location so that the portion extending from the first location to the first of the first and second opposite ends can be located behind a belt extending through the first and second openings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a holster in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 attached to a waist belt and holding a flashlight;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the holster, shown holding an adjustable wrench; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention in which the third opening is formed by cutting a circle in the fabric tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The holster 10 shown in FIG. 1, which is suitable for use with a flashlight, is composed entirely of an elongated tube of fabric, preferably a fabric formed by weaving yarns of a fusible polymer such as nylon or polyester. The tube can be composed of one or more sheets of woven fabric formed into a tube with one or more longitudinal seams. Preferably, however, the tube is woven with a continuous helical weft. The use of woven tubing having a continuous weft simplifies the manufacture of the holster by avoiding the need for stitching or adhesives, and also improves its durability.

The tube extends from a first end 12 to a second end 14, and has a pair of elongated openings for receiving a waist belt. A first one of these openings, opening 16, is shown in full view, and the second opening, opening 18, is directly opposite opening 16, and shown by a broken line. These openings extend from a first location, indicated by reference line 20, between ends 12 and 14 of the tube to a second location, indicated by reference line 22, at a second location between the first location and end 14 of the tube. A third opening, opening 24, extends in a direction transverse to the direction of elongation of the tube, across a part of the tube at a third location between the location indicated by reference line 22 and the end 14 of the tube. The length of opening 24 in the direction transverse to the direction of elongation of the tube should be at least approximately one half the circumference of the tube at the location of opening 24, so that, by flexing the material of the tube, an opening having a circumference corresponding to the circumference of the tube can be provided for receiving a flashlight or other article. The length of opening 24 can be, but need not be, greater than one half the circumference of the tube.

Each of the openings is preferably formed by the use of a metal blade heated to a temperature sufficient to melt the woven material. When the heated blade is applied to the material, a protective backing of metal or other suitable material should be in place within the tube to prevent the heated blade from opening or damaging other parts of the tube. The heat of the blade not only forms the openings, but also fuses yarns at the margin of each opening to one another so that fraying at the margins is avoided. The lower end 14 of the tube may also be closed by the application of heat to cause opposite sides of the lower end opening to be fused together.

As shown in FIG. 2, the holster 10 is engaged with a waist belt 26, which extends though opening 16 and opening 18 (shown in FIG. 1) to support the holster. A portion 28 of the tube extending from end 12 to a location adjacent the location designated by reference line 20 in FIG. 1, is folded downward behind the section between the locations designated by reference lines 20 and 22, and may be secured to the back side of the tube by fusion in the process of making the holster.

A flashlight 30 can then be inserted into opening 24 so that a major part of the length of its barrel is inside the tube while the bezel of the flashlight is exposed and can be grasped in order to remove the flashlight from the holster. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the closure at the lower end 14 of the tube supports the flashlight. However, in those cases where the bezel of the flashlight is larger than the barrel, the closure at the lower end 14 is not necessary and the lower end may be left open. The holster can be used to hold a flashlight having a generally cylindrical shape, i.e., a flashlight lacking an enlarged bezel. Such flashlights can be supported by the closure at the lower end of the holster. Some flashlights are provided with a metal clip for engaging the pocket of an article of clothing. The clip can be engaged with the exterior of the lower portion of the holster, and the lower end of the holster can also be open when the holster is to be used with a flashlight having a clip.

FIG. 3 shows a holster 32 which is similar to holster 10 except that it has an open lower end 34 through which the handle 36 of an adjustable wrench 38 extends. An open lower end enables the holster to accommodate wrenches and other devices having various lengths, but having end portions shaped to engage the margin of the third opening of the holster, i.e., opening 40 in FIG. 3.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-3, the article-receiving opening, i.e., the third opening of the holster, is formed by a straight cut extending in a direction transverse to the direction of elongation of the woven tube. In the modified version of the holster, shown in FIG. 4, the third opening 42 is formed by cutting the fabric tube so that the opening has two opposed concave margins 44 and 46. The opening thus formed facilitates the insertion of an article such as a flashlight, a wrench, or other device into the holster. The opening can be circular, in which case the concave margins will be 180° circular arcs.

Various modifications can be made to the holster described above. For example, the lengths of the first and second openings can be varied and the relationship between the third opening and the first and second openings can be varied to achieve a desired relationship between the user's waist belt and the article-receiving pocket. Moreover, while the holster can be made inexpensively from available woven fabric tubing having a constant diameter, woven fabric tubes having tapered shapes can be utilized to accommodate various tools and other articles. These and other modifications can be made to the holsters described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A holster comprising an elongated tube of fabric formed with a pair of longitudinal openings that enable a first part of the tube to serve as a loop for attachment to a waist belt, and a transverse opening that enables a second part of the belt to serve as a pocket of holding an elongated article.
 2. A holster comprising: an elongated tube of fabric having first and second opposite ends; a pair of elongated openings in said tube, said elongated openings extending along opposite sides of the tube from a first location between said first and second opposite ends to a second location between said first location and the second of said first and second opposite ends; and a third opening extending in a direction transverse to the direction of elongation of said tube, across a part of the elongated tube, at a third location between said second location and the second of said first and second opposite ends, said third opening having a length, measured in said transverse direction, at least approximately one half of the circumference of said elongated tube at said third location; whereby the portion of said elongated tube along which said pair of elongated openings extends forms a loop for attachment of the holster to an individual's waist belt, and the portion of said tube extending from said third opening to the second of said first and second opposite ends forms a pocket for receiving a portion of an elongated article.
 3. A holster according to claim 2, wherein said tube has a closure at said second opposite end.
 4. A holster according to claim 2, wherein said fabric is a woven material composed of fusible yarns.
 5. A holster according to claim 2, wherein said fabric is a fabric woven from yarns from the group consisting of nylon and polyester yarns.
 6. A holster according to claim 2, wherein said tube has a closure at said second opposite end, wherein said fabric is a woven material composed of fusible yarns, and wherein said closure is formed by fusion of the yarns of said tube to one another at the location of said second of said first and second opposite ends.
 7. A holster according to claim 2, wherein said tube has a closure at said second opposite end, wherein said fabric is a fabric woven from yarns from the group consisting of nylon and polyester yarns, and wherein said closure is formed by fusion of the yarns of said tube to one another at the location of said second of said first and second opposite ends.
 8. A holster according to claim 2, wherein said fabric is a woven material composed of fusible yarns, and wherein the yarns at the margins of said first, second and third openings are fused to one another.
 9. A holster according to claim 2, wherein said fabric is a fabric woven from yarns from the group consisting of nylon and polyester yarns and wherein the yarns at the margins of said first, second and third openings are fused to one another.
 10. A holster according to claim 2, wherein said third opening is formed with opposed concave margins each extending across said part of the elongated tube at said third location.
 11. A holster according to claim 2, wherein said third opening is formed as a circle with its diameter extending across said part of the elongated tube at said third location.
 12. A holster according to claim 2, wherein a portion of said elongated tube extending from said first location to the first of said first and second opposite ends has a length sufficient to allow said elongated tube to be folded at a location adjacent said first location whereby said portion extending from said first location to the first of said first and second opposite ends can be located behind a belt extending through said first and second openings.
 13. A holster according to claim 2, wherein said tube is formed of a woven fabric, and wherein the portion of said elongated tube extending from said first end to said first location, the portion of said elongated tube extending from said second location to said third opening and the portion of said elongated tube extending from said third opening to said second end are constituted by woven portions the weft yarns of which that are continuous around the perimeter of the tube. 